Project Description Narrative:

Congestive heart failure (CHF) afflicts 5.8 million individuals in the U.S., accounting for 1 million hospitalizations each year. In addition, CHF accounts for major morbidity, reduced quality of life, and greater health care costs for significant portion of the U.S., including Wisconsin. There is strong evidence that managing CHF with light- and moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity can result in increased length and health-related quality of life. However, patient adherence to recommended physical activity is low. On average, fewer than 10% of CHF patients achieve physician recommended goals to engage in regular exercise to relieve symptoms. There is also evidence that less than half of CHF patients who have enrolled in clinical trials to use exercise as an intervention achieve the target goals for activity. Through this award, a research team will gather data to develop protocols to improve planning, monitoring and adherence to physical activity in patients recovering from CHF.